Here is your chance to try your hand at being a tow boat captain. But just so you know what you are up against. The American Beauty built by St. Louis Ships for Argi-Trans Services measures 170 feet in length, with a beam of 45 feet, and requires 9 feet of water when fully loaded with fuel. Powered by twin 2500 h.p. diesel engines turning two 8 ft. diameter propellers, she typically moves a tow of 20-25 barges each being approximately 200 feet long by 35 feet wide at speeds of 4 to 9 miles per hour. That is almost 4 acres of barges! Fortunately as modelers, we have life a little easier. The Dumas kit of the American Beauty starts off with an ABS plastic hull. The construction of the superstructure is accomplished through the use of precisely die-cut birch and mahogany plywoods. Length 37 inches Beam 12 inches Scale 7/32 in. to 1 ft.